Papa John Creach Playing My Fiddle For You/Filthy CD - Import

''I used to tell people when I was playing on the streets that one day I was going to have a CD. I did not know when or where it was going to come. You see I never had the respect, consideration or courtesy until I met Music Maker. I was born in Birmingham, grew up north in Pittsburgh. George Benson lived near us and he is the one that got me started on the guitar.

''I call my guitar Pawnshop. Each time it goes into the pawnshop it gets bluesier when it comes out, like it sounds, funkier. I'm serious; I will be missing it, like it was in jail. I cannot sleep at night and that is a Gibson 1960 model, it has a lot of sentimental value to me. In matter of fact, it went to jail with me in 1974; I was playing in a park in Atlanta, Georgia. They put me in jail. I was in the news One-Man Band got a jail sentence. You know they put my guitar in jail, my drum, the whole city was upset! They called the mayor's office and asked: why did you put that man in jail, we are taxpayers-what did he do wrong? The mayor's name was Jackson he has passed on now. They did not put me in jail for robbing or stealing; they put me in jail for playing the blues. I said if a judge kept me in jail for playing the blues, he is a dirty judge. Any way, the people both white and black demanded my release, and they let me go. I am history in Atlanta. That city has been very good to me.

''This music thing is no joke. You got to dedicate yourself to it or leave it alone. I have dedicated my life to it. It is my life. It is my gift. Each person has a gift. It may be your personality, the way you talk to someone, dance, sing or even push a broom. You make that floor look shiny; make it stand out like a shining star. Be good at what you do, if you are shining shoes, I don't care what it is, cutting a yard. Anything I do, I do it good. I like to have pride, respect. This is what motivates others, when they see your good works. Because somebody has got to start something to show some love. I don't want to ever change. I will be the One Man Band until the day I die.